Last week, Jorge, Sam, and Yara sat down with Patrick Agyemang on Zoom to talk about how he’s adjusting to playing in the English Championship, British food, playing with (and recovering from) a hernia injury, and what it would be like to take the pitch next year for the 2026 World Cup.
Agyemang and the U.S. Men’s National Team will face Ecuador in an international friendly tonight at 8:30 PM ET/7:30 PM CT in Austin, Texas before traveling to Colorado on Tuesday to face Australia.
Yara Al Bayyari: I did want to ask about the most surreal moment you’ve had going from playing in the MLS, where the fans and the game itself is relatively new, to going to playing in the UK where it’s an integral part of their culture and their society.
Patrick Agyemang: Yeah, it’s crazy. They live, breathe everything around the game.
I remember when I first got here and I got into the city of Derby, I went to get groceries with my brother and I got bombarded one time. And I was like, “okay, this is next level” in that aspect.
But at the end of the day, this is where… they take it serious. Like, this is their main sport. So it makes sense.
And it’s been cool because it’s definitely something I wanted to be around.
But when you’re here, it’s like, oh, wow, this is real life.
Sam Spencer: Have you got a chance to try any food yet?
PA: Like English food.
SS: Oh, yeah.
PA: Yeah, I tried. When I first got here, I said, let me at least try fish and chips. I had that.
It’s good. It’s cool. It’s cool …
I really, I just stick to the food I really eat.
YAB: Have you tried Nando’s yet?
PA: Of course. Amazing. Amazing.
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